Hello all,
I am relative neophyte in the finishing department and am working on my first project that I really care about so I want it to go well. With that in mind, here’s the question. I am going to be rubbing out a lacquer top coat on a couple of pore filled boxes to get the high-gloss look. I purchased the whole deal: Pumice and Rottenston and some oil. Then in looking at the new incarnation of Michael Dresdner’s finishing book he talks about polishing compunds (maybe automotive compunds too?) you can buy that are pre-made and perhaps better than mixing your own. Unlike his last version of the book he doesn’t give a list of manufacturers so I don’t know what products he suggests. Has anyone out there worked with any pre-made compunds? Does anybody have an opinion about which is better or easier? Also, I was wondering if anyone had an opinion about weather a Padding Lacquer finish was “Rub Outable”. Would that be too thin a top-coat? Lastly, and this is kind of a tangent, but Dresdner also mentioned a “Clear Pore Filler” which is gaining in popularity, but again, I have no info on a source. Any ideas? Thanks tons!
Erich
Replies
What Dresdner is talking about are automotive finish materials. There are rubbing compounds and polishing compounds. Stay away from the rubbing compounds, they are too course. The polishing compound will get you 95% of the way to a high gloss finish and can be thought of as a substitute for rottenstone. To get the final 5% a swirl remover is used. These products are generally used with power buffing machines.
Of course, you must start off with wet sanding from 400 to 600 to 1200 and the finish must be fully cured.
Oh, as to manufacturers, DuPont makes polishing compounds and Maquires makes polishing compounds and swirl removers. I get mine at autobody supply stores.
FWIW they're swirl fillers not removers. They are a shortcut and save a lot of addional polishing through successive grits. It's not that they're bad, but for the best possible finish keep polishing.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Thanks all for the replys! ELCOHOLIC, what products do you recommend in terms of polishing through the grits?
Thanks again,
Erich
Maguire's or 3M. I've also used cornstarch with a wool bonnet in a pinch.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Hi Erich,
I too have ventured into the highly polished laquer finish. The first order of business is to let the finish fully cure, a month or more, generally if cannot smell the laquer thinner smell anymore you are ready to roll. I have had good luck using 3m imperial wet dry sandpaper starting with 600 going to 1200. Then with a high speed polisher and a foam rubber cutting pad using meguiars number 1 and then finally number 3 (for a really high polish).
Good luck.. It's still a lot of work
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled